Is this young man at risk for substance use? Could he become one of the 12 million people in the U.S. who are problem drinkers?

He’s 25 years-old. Comes from a divorced family. Parents had poor parenting skills and dad was verbally abusive. He’s dating a woman who binge drinks on weekends. He already has financial problems in his young life and hangs out with friends who drink. In high school, he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety after a long custody battle surrounding his parents’ divorce. He began drinking with friends and often found himself intoxicated at high school parties. His social drinking continued after high school. He’s drinking as a way to cope with his life. So far, he sees little impact of his drinking, but has noticed he is drinking more and more. And he likes the fact that drinking takes the edge off of his anxiety and provides an escape.

Substance use often begins in the teen years with intoxication. Add the right risk factors, a genetic predisposition to addiction, and you have the making of a problem drinker and substance abuser. Substance use involves a pathological pattern of behavior–the substance continues to be used despite significant substance-related problems (e.g., DUI, job loss, relationship problems, etc.). And in that use, the brain changes, leading to repeated relapses and drug cravings when exposed to drug related stimuli.

Our young man is ripe for the addiction picking. He had family problems including divorce, poor parenting, and verbal abuse. He is now in a social circle with a drinking girlfriend and friends who use alcohol as a way of escaping and stress reduction. He is using alcohol to medicate his anxiety and has a history of depression. And he is facing negative life events like financial problems. These are all risk factors for problem drinking.

How do we prevent our young man from becoming a problem drinker?

First, address his family issues and provide him with healthy coping skills to deal with how those issues are now presenting.

Second, build his resiliency to stress and assess his mental health for depression and anxiety.

Third, change his social environment. Both his peers and girlfriend drink. This makes it difficult to stop the pattern of drinking so perhaps he needs a different set of friends. If not, he will need to learn refusal skills and set himself apart from his growing reliance on drinking to medicate stress. This will not be easy if he continues to place himself in the company of those who regularly drink.

Fourth, talk to him about developing a spiritual life with faith in Christ. A church community would direct him on a spiritual path to help with stress and life issues. Other adults could support his sobriety and friendship needs and provide community. He would be surrounded by those who would teach resiliency through Scripture and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

With changes, he doesn’t have to go down the path of problem drinking.

Linda Mintle

It is rare that a trained academic who speaks passionately to the heart of people providing real answers to real life problems and in a relatable style. Dr. Linda’s fun personality comes through whether she’s helping her audiences prevent a divorce or make peace with their thighs!

Dr. Linda Mintle is a national expert on the psychology of food, weight and body image and relationships. With years of clinical experience in weight loss and eating disorders, she is uniquely qualified to bring sensibility and real help to anyone struggling with weight, eating and body image. Her latest book, Press Pause Before You Eat explores how to say goodbye to mindless eating and hello to the joy of eating.

Dr. Linda is a best selling author, winner of the Mom’s Choice Award, a national news consultant and blogger and hosts her own website. Her academic appointment at Eastern Virginia Medical School keeps her abreast of current research in her areas of expertise. Her media experience includes seven years as the resident expert for ABC Family’s Living the Life television show and regular appearances on network television and radio. Her current assignment as a national news consultant allows her to comment on mental health issues in the news. As a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed clinical social worker, she brings 25 years of clinical experience to every day living.

It is often said that being with Dr. Linda is like having coffee with a friend. She makes the complicated issues of relationships and mental health easy to understand and applicable to every day living. The ease she has with people, coupled with her clinical training and experience makes her a sought after speaker on college campuses, at conferences and special events. Whether she is doing a TV skit with Tim Conway or discussing teen violence with Queen Latifa, Dr. Linda will entertain, educate and help you with Real Life. Real Answers.